Box Score LUBBOCK – Without injured senior all-Americans
Shahala Hawkins and
Chelsey Driskill, Wayland Baptist fell to Lubbock Christian in a non-conference match on Tuesday night at the Rip Griffin Center, 25-17, 25-18, 25-16.
Wayland (23-7), which entered the NAIA Coaches' Poll at No. 25 earlier in the day, already was without Hawkins, who in addition to a tender knee injured her ankle in Saturday's win over then-No. 24 Oklahoma City. The Sooner Athletic Conference-leading Pioneers then lost Driskill, their other middle, when she rolled her ankle while warming up prior to Tuesday's match.
"It's one of those unfortunate situations that take place and you have to roll with the punches," Wayland coach
Jim Giacomazzi said.
The remaining Pioneers did their best without two of their standouts, but in the end just didn't have the firepower to match up with LCU (14-9).
"We try to cross-train, but we just don't have the players to cross-train in the middle," Giacomazzi said.
Considering the circumstances, the Pioneers held their own against their former Sooner Athletic Conference rival Lady Chaparrals, who defeated Plainview in four in Plainview on Sept. 29.
"We did a good job blocking in the first set, but unfortunately we stopped blocking after that," Giacomazzi said. "That was a little disappointing because we had the right people out there as far as setting it up."
Wayland led the third set, 10-6, before LCU outscored the Pioneers 9-1 to again take control of the match.
Freshman
Mallorie Ellis paced the Pioneers, who hit .037, with eight kills while hitting .111.
"Mallorie did a good job there," Giacomazzi said.
Cindy Horn added five kills and
Katie Inman four. Wayland ended with 48 digs, 15 by
Cat Wiechmann and 14 by
Rossanna Ramos. Inman tallied one solo and two assisted blocks, and
Emily Welch had 10 of the team's 19 assists.
LCU hit .237 and had 62 digs and five blocks.
Giacomazzi expects Hawkins to play this weekend when Wayland travels to Waxahachie to face Southwestern Assemblies of God (16-9, 7-6 SAC) at 7 p.m. Friday and third-place Texas Wesleyan (20-9, 9-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Driskill's status for this weekend is more up in the air.
"We don't know how serious it is yet," Giacomazzi said. "She'll be getting some aggressive treatment over the next few days. If she's able to play, it may be sparingly."
Earlier this month in Plainview, Wayland defeated Texas Wesleyan 22-25, 25-9, 25-22, 25-18, and SAGU, 25-15, 25-17, 26-4.
The important thing is that Driskill, and Hawkins, are back in time for the SAC Tournament beginning Nov. 7.
"We really don't need her until the conference tournament when it really matters," Giacomazzi said. "We're going to rest her a lot and get her a lot of rehab."
